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The Credit‐Incentive System: Motivating the participation of patients in a day hospital
Author(s) -
Liberman Robert Paul,
Fearn Clarence Haven,
DeRisi William,
Roberts Johnie,
Carmona Monica
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
british journal of social and clinical psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.479
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 2044-8260
pISSN - 0007-1293
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1977.tb01006.x
Subject(s) - receipt , incentive , group cohesiveness , token economy , prosocial behavior , recreation , psychology , certificate , variety (cybernetics) , business , actuarial science , social psychology , economics , microeconomics , accounting , political science , artificial intelligence , reinforcement , computer science , law , algorithm
The Credit‐Incentive System, a modified token economy, is a means of motivating the participation of day hospital patients in therapeutic activities through the use of contingent rewards. Credits are earned by patients for engaging in a wide variety of prosocial tasks and activities and can be spent for coffee, a free lunch, special time with professional staff, recreational events, and time off from the treatment centre. The receipt of credits is accompanied by social approval and recognition from the staff and other patients. Evaluations have shown that the credit system doubles the participation rate of patients in a partial hospitalization programme. The system also enhances group cohesiveness, provides practice and feedback for cognitive re‐integration, and offers opportunities for learning self‐management. The results of two experiments suggest that the symbolic and social rewards mediated by the credits are the most important components of their effectiveness.